Topic
Common bladderwort
About: Common bladderwort is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4 publications have been published within this topic receiving 79 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: Comparisons among lakes led to the rejection of the hypothesis that plants from some lakes are able to produce more bladders per leaf because bladders differ in their photosynthetic productivity.
Abstract: Carnivorous plants are usually restricted to nutrient-poor environments, suggesting that there is a cost to caputuring animals that is offset by the benefits of carnivory only under unusual circumstances. One such cost could involve a reduced photosynthetic capacity associated with the growth and maintenance of prey-capture organs. This hypothesis is tested using the common bladderwort, Utricularia macrohiza, which bears numerous distinct prey-capture bladders. Measurements of the photosynthetic and respiration rates of leaves and bladders were incorporated into growth models to estimate the growth rates of plants with and without bladders. Comparisons were made in three lakes which differed in nutrient status and in which plants exhibited marked differences in their densities of prey-capture bladders. Overall, photosynthetic rates for leaves were approximately twice those for bladders while respiration rates did not differ significantly between tissues. Calculations incorporating these values indicate that plants producing both bladders and leaves would grow to as little as 21% or as much as 83% of plants that produced leaves alone. Comparisons among lakes led to the rejection of the hypothesis that plants from some lakes are able to produce more bladders per leaf because bladders differ in their photosynthetic productivity.
61 citations
TL;DR: Results from the situation with two prey and some of the results from the direct behavioural observations support field data on the diet of Utricularia, which shows that cyclopoid copepods are selected more frequently than Polyphemus.
Abstract: The mechanisms underlying differential prey selection of two microcrustaceans by the common bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris) were studied in the laboratory. Functional response experiments with single prey showed that Utricularia had a higher attack rate coefficient and a longer handling time coefficient with the cladoceran Polyphemus pediculus than with the cyclopoid copepod Eucyclops serrulatus. Observation of predation rate, defined as number of prey eaten per unit time, from direct behavioural observation on single prey species, showed a higher predation rate with Polyphemus than on Eucyclops, at low prey densities. The opposite pattern was found at high prey density. When the two prey were presented simultaneously to the predator, Eucyclops was preferred over Polyphemus. Results from the situation with two prey and some of the results from the direct behavioural observations support field data on the diet of Utricularia, which shows that cyclopoid copepods are selected more frequently than Polyphemus.
18 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that Swollen Bladderwort is more susceptible to water movement and may be spread to downstream systems at a faster rate, compared to Common BladderWort and attached bladderwort species.
Abstract: Utricularia inflata (Swollen Bladderwort) is a submersed macrophyte that is expanding its range in the northeastern US. Although Swollen Bladderwort is a new addition to this region, Utricularia purpurea (Purple Bladderwort) and U. vulgaris (Common Bladderwort) are 2 morphologically similar free-floating species within the invaded waterways. Through a series of greenhouse and field studies, we sought to distinguish traits among these 3 macrophytes. We conducted a greenhouse experiment to compare the vegetative propagation of Swollen Bladderwort and Common Bladderwort in a temperature-controlled tank. In field trials, we examined the displacement of all 3 species by water movement and their distribution across a range of depths at 5 lake sites. Swollen Bladderwort and Common Bladderwort both produced potential propagules, but exhibited differences in their asexual reproduction. New Common Bladderwort branches grew significantly longer, while Swollen Bladderwort fragments exhibited a greater number...
3 citations
TL;DR: Evaluating a generalist plant predator of North America, Utricularia macrorhiza, the common bladderwort, and its larvacidal efficiency for the mosquito vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in no-choice, laboratory experiments suggests that U. macrorHiza warrants further development as a method for larval mosquito control.
Abstract: Biological controls with predators of larval mosquito vectors have historically focused almost exclusively on insectivorous animals, with few studies examining predatory plants as potential larvacidal agents. In this study, we experimentally evaluate a generalist plant predator of North America, Utricularia macrorhiza, the common bladderwort, and evaluate its larvacidal efficiency for the mosquito vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in no-choice, laboratory experiments. We sought to determine first, whether U. macrorhiza is a competent predator of container-breeding mosquitoes, and secondly, its predation efficiency for early and late instar larvae of each mosquito species. Newly hatched, first-instar Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti larvae were separately exposed in cohorts of 10 to field-collected U. macrorhiza cuttings. Data on development time and larval survival were collected on a daily basis to ascertain the effectiveness of U. macrorhiza as a larval predator. Survival models were used to assess differences in larval survival between cohorts that were exposed to U. macrorhiza and those that were not. A permutation analysis was used to investigate whether storing U. macrorhiza in laboratory conditions for extended periods of time (1 month vs 6 months) affected its predation efficiency. Our results indicated a 100% and 95% reduction of survival of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus larvae, respectively, in the presence of U. macrorhiza relative to controls within five days, with peak larvacidal efficiency in plant cuttings from ponds collected in August. Utricularia macrorhiza cuttings, which were prey-deprived, and maintained in laboratory conditions for 6 months were more effective larval predators than cuttings, which were maintained prey-free for 1 month. Due to the combination of high predation efficiency and the unique biological feature of facultative predation, we suggest that U. macrorhiza warrants further development as a method for larval mosquito control.
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 1992 | 1 |